Of the three novels in this volume, i read only "The Real Life of Sebastian Knight." In this work, the narrator "V." records his efforts to research and understand the life of his deceased half-brother, who was a Russian-borne English novelist (Sebastian Knight). He tracks down people who were part of Sebastian's life, going to huge efforts to do so. I found it rather challenging because of Nabokov's ornate writing style (although I love "Lolita," and found it completely accessible), the use of French sprinkled throughout, and the inclusion of several stories (plots of books written by Sebastian) within the story. On the more enjoyable side was the narrator's cynical humor, and I was completely drawn into V's efforts to solve the mystery of the identity of Sebastian's last lover.